Last night I had an opportunity to be on Mamavation TV. I feel I don’t do well on camera (yes, Bootcamp was way out of my comfort zone) or when put on the spot with questions and responses. I was just there to be a support and didn’t realize I would be called on to give any more than my opinion on the #2weekchallenge . I am someone who really likes to think through and put thought into my words, or I don’t feel they are conveyed as I intend. I think this is why I enjoy blogging, but also why it is a laborious process for me. I can’t just put my words down, I must also read and modify and re-read and edit them till I really feel I am saying what I intend. Then I have my husband (editor-in-chief of Lumpy to Lean) come in and read it to make sure that I am getting my point across, as well as, fix any overt grammar errors. Last night’s show was about fitness, but I feel that I forgot that message when the questions came and my words didn’t give the sense of how important fitness is to me. For me, fitness has been an underlying part of my Journey to lose the weight that I have already lost. While it is true that the bulk of the weight actually started to actually come off once I figured out my eating and made huge changes there, the journey all began with fitness/exercise and, without that underlying foundation, I would not be where I am.

My original ID Photo circa 2009

I started over 6 years ago by joining a gym. I went regularly for over 6 months without actually making much change other than trying to move more. I had done exercise programs before throughout the years but would stop when life got in the way or I just lacked the motivation. I was at the gym multiple times a week, so why was the weight not falling off? I was getting quite frustrated. Mind you my workouts were half-hearted at best. I was extremely overweight and I was doing little more than climbing on an elliptical and barely breaking a sweat (even though the machine told me I was burning 500-700 cal for effort). The problem is I thought the machine was giving me a workout. I was there, and I went 60 minutes like a rat on the wheel. It’s no wonder that I dreaded the time, and I wasn’t losing the weight I wanted or needed to lose.

It was just about 5 years ago (Sept 2009) that I signed up for a “Biggest Loser” type of class at my local gym. That program included trainers that would work with us once a week. We’d weigh in, talk about weight loss and, most of all, we would work out “Bootcamp Style”. It was then and there that I realized what was happening in the gym: simply jumping on the elliptical and sweating a bit was not doing anything for me. I learned that in order to really succeed that I needed to put in much more effort in my workouts. My trainers (Rick & Deb) were terrific. They would push me and push me to keep going (not anything like what you see on the TV show, nowhere near that much drama at least). But they knew better what my body was capable of than I did at that point. It is true that only I know my body’s limitations, but they could see my potential. It was at this point that my body began to actually change.

Although I still didn’t have all the pieces and was actually missing some key components, I was on my way finally and the journey had truly begun. It was at this point that I started going to the gym almost daily (4-6 days a week) and while the weight still wasn’t coming off as fast as I truly wanted, I was making huge steps toward where I am today. I was creating fitness habits that would last a lifetime, and — most importantly for making the habits last, I was finally enjoying the work to get where I am. I often now refer to myself as a “gym rat” as it is my home away from home, and I am truly enjoy being there (at least most days). I know that I don’t need a gym to work out. I do and have done many workouts at home when time and circumstances don’t allow me to get into the gym. Many people do it without the gym at all, but for me it is a routine it is a consistent piece of my day where I can focus on fitness and working toward a stronger me.

Feb 2014 Mid Workout

I just recently completed a Personal Trainer Certification program and now am officially a card carrying member of the fitness community. I ask myself all the time what I now want to do with this training and where I want to go with this. My answer is always the same. I want to help others do what I have done. Do I want to follow people around at the gym, seeking clients? No, I want to inspire others to push themselves and to reach their potential within. I want to show others that they are capable of so much more. I want to encourage people to keep pushing forward and not give up because while it seems to be insurmountable, it truly isn’t. I want to show other women that the weight room isn’t a scary place, and they have as much as right to be there as the guys slinging around 100lb dumbbells. This is why my focus is here. I believe I can do that much more effectively by example and by encouraging my readers and myself as I push myself further.

This Mamavation Monday is a perfect time to jump back into blogging. I know I have been MIA on the blog for a few months now. It isn’t because I have given up. It is just been really hard to keep a writing schedule/routine with school out. I have struggled to get to the gym, and I have struggled to keep everything going (fitness, healthy eating, housework, family activities, etc.) including my weight loss. I have done really well maintaining for the last several months, but I am still short my of overall goal. I am not done yet! It is back to school time and that also means, it is time for me to jump back into my regular fitness routine and get the scale moving again.

This week starts the new #2weekchallenge, so my plan is to add this to my current routine and really amp up my workouts. Over the summer, I have still been working out, just not always doing my typical routines. I have enjoyed some outdoor water classes, and on vacation instead of gym workouts I kept super-active and participated in some super fun activities. All of these are things that I know I would have struggled to do and probably never would have even tried 100lbs ago. I plan to share more about the fun new activities I have tried here later, as they have given me some ideas and material for new blog posts. For now, just know that I am keeping at it and I will be working hard to get back into my fitness routines and to really kick up my workouts to get back into the groove and start making that scale move again. I will also be back on the blog again: there are many more people than I would have believed who have told me that this encourages and motivates them, and I know that it sure motivates me. So, let’s get moving!

It is still quite unusual for me to think about having lost over 100lbs. It is like a huge barrier that I have finally cleared, but I can’t think how it ever was before. I want to write more about the journey itself and share with you the entire story, but I haven’t yet come up with all the words needed to do so. So, I thought I would give you a few of the biggest realizations I have had during the process.

1. What works for one person does not work for everyone. There are hundreds of methods to lose weight. It is a billion-dollar big business for a reason. Almost all of the people out there who lost a lot of weight (100 lbs. or more) are quick to tell you their method and try to sell you a way or product that is “sure to work.” Well, I am sure it does/did work for someone. We have all spent way too much money trying to lose weight. There are products out there that may or may not help you along the way. The only method that will work for you is one you are committed to and will stay with, no matter what. This is why, for me, it has been real food and exercise. I have grown to love working out, and I have no problem continuing to do so. I change up the types of exercises because I want to do so many I have to choose from time to time.

2. I had to be willing to change. Losing weight changes you. We can think, “I am still the same person,” and, yes, we are, but if we don’t change our mindset, the weight will come back. To lose this much weight, I had to change the way I think about food, about my body, and often about my life. I have read many stories about people who lose friends and people they are close to, or even divorce a spouse, after a huge weight loss. It is because they have changed who they are and how they think about everything. This is why it is important to bring those close to you along with you. You can grow and change together.

3. It is a hard process. Anyone who says it was easy for them, I applaud and congratulate. It is not impossible, but it is not easy. It takes much dedication and hard work to get there. There are days you just want to give in and give up. You have to keep from doing so. There were many days I didn’t want to go to the gym or I just wanted to go gorge myself on ice cream and say phooey on the whole thing. It is completely OK and normal to feel like this, but it is what you DO that matters. Do not give in, keep plugging through, and if you do give in for a time (skipping workouts, chowing down a pint of ice cream or a 1/2-pound chocolate bar, etc.), don’t beat yourself up for it. Just move past it, leave it in the past, and move forward, committed to your newer better way of living.

4. It can take a very long time. Do not stop short of the goal, even it may take longer than you think. You may get side-tracked for a while (I know that I did), but if you keep sight of the goal, you will get there. I am not the most patient person. It has taken me 5 years to get this far and I am not done yet. I know now that I will get to my goal, and I will not stop working when I do. This is a life-long process and 5 years is nothing when I stop to think about the next 50 years to come, if the Lord is willing to let me stay that long.

5.We need help along the way. It is OK to ask for help when we need it. What we need at one point may be completely different than what we need at another point along the journey. Seeking others who can lift us up and help to keep us on track whatever we may need at the time is a positive thing. You never know what life-long friends you might find along the way as well.

These are just a few of the things I have learned on this journey. Is there something you have learned during your own journey? I hope to share more things I have learned in the months to come as I continue forward toward my ultimate goal.

When I first started thinking about this post, I had so many different thoughts and ideas that I wasn’t sure how I was going to tie them all together. As my friend @ruethemomof would say we all can dance. Well, this girl has two left feet, but that doesn’t stop me from shaking my stuff from time to time … in the solace of my own home and only in front of my children and away from all windows. Even that often ends with the my toddler screaming for me to stop (see it really is that bad). However, it isn’t that kind rhythm that I am talking about. I am talking about our bodies’ weight-loss rhythm. We all have a distinct and personal rhythm, and while it can change from time to time, it is definitely something to pay attention to.

We like to think that weight-loss is all about the numbers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was as simple as X (calories in) -Y (calories burned) = Z (fat lost)? Well, after years and years of doing this, I have found it is never that simple. There is that complicated component called metabolism, and then there are the rates at which different types of foods are broken down and processed for energy first . This means there is just so much more that goes into it than just calories. It isn’t as simple as “calories in” and “calories burned” at all. For anyone who has counted calories and hit a plateau, that math often just does not work. Yes, eating fewer calories and burning more calories will lead to weight-loss, but how much and how it comes off is never a simple equation. There are hundreds of people who will tell you more than 1000 different ways to do this, each swearing that his/her method is the best and ultimately the perfect way to lose weight. Of course they are all trying to sell their method/book/supplement. And while many may work for some or for a short time no one has the right answer for you but you.

When comes to weight loss rhythm, you can only find yours by watching what happens with your body and how specific foods and exercise change the outcome. To do this, you must record your food and exercise and watch what happens to your weight and body shape over time. It is only through observation that you will see how this happens for you. Too many times people don’t have the patience for this process. When we are working hard, we expect to see immediate results. When we don’t get the expected results, then we get depressed and frustrated and give up before allowing our bodies time to respond the way they should. The truth is weight-loss is a very personal journey. Yours is different than mine. You can take two people and feed them the same foods, have them do the exact same workouts, and yet they would each lose weight at a different rate. There are just too many other factors that are involved in the process. Sometimes people lose 2lbs a week, other times they don’t lose at all, but they drop clothes sizes and inches like crazy. Other times, they may go weeks without a change then suddenly lose multiple pounds. How your body responds is completely personal.

My own weight-loss rhythm has changed dramatically in recent months. I am working out much differently than I had in the past. I am approaching nearer and nearer to my goal. I am lifting weights and training very hard right now. This leads to a very different weight-loss rhythm than what I was experiencing before. Right now, it is taking me about three weeks before I show a loss at all, then it is a sudden drop of 2-3lbs. I admit this is hard to take, working my tush off for 3 weeks and not having the scale move is tedious, frustrating, and depressing. Even when I know the drop should come, it is hard not to fear that it won’t happen and worry that I am hitting that dreaded plateau yet again. So, what is the answer? Should I avoid the scale for those 3 weeks? I think not, because I don’t want not to record and measure, for fear that something may go wrong and I won’t catch it in time. So, I still get on that scale, and I still see the numbers not change and even though I know that a change will come eventually, it is very difficult not to become frustrated and discouraged.

Monday’s Mamavation TV show was about finding your calm and ending the negative self talk. It is difficult to stay positive and avoid giving into the negative self talk when frustrated because the scale doesn’t move as it should. For me, a big part of this journey that I didn’t anticipate and have had to learn along the way is to understand that this process is not predictable. My body is doing things that it never has before. The simple math of calories in/out does not provide predictable real-world results for me (or many others too, especially after some significant weight-loss). So, I am having to learn to manage my frustration and negative self talk by watching how my body responds to food, exercise, and monthly cycles. It’s not easy to keep that in perspective. But, as I am learning and am able to think things through by talking them out here and with others, I am becoming more able (I hope) to keep things in perspective, to avoid becoming unduly depressed and discouraged when the scale doesn’t move for days, or even weeks. It’s not easy to resist those emotions and the stress of not seeing change when I’m working so hard, but I appreciate those of you who are willing to listen, to offer encouragement and advice, and to share this journey of learning with me.

If you haven’t yet found your weight-loss rhythm give it time. Plan a month to record everything, all your food, exercises, measurements and weight. Take pictures and focus on your journey. At the end you will see the difference and hopefully have further insight into your own rhythm. Do you already do this and know how your body responds? Realize it may change at some point so always be prepared to re-evaluate. This journey takes time and commitment, never give up because you aren’t seeing the changes fast enough. They will come with time. Sometimes it may even take years to fully realize your potential. I am living proof of that persistence will pay off.

Well the Mamavation Bootcamp Campaign ended last week. It was 8 weeks of exercise plans, diet plans, and massive information leading to a detox from foods, and removing products containing pesticides and chemicals from use in our homes. I have spent each week learning about a new area where we have to be cautious about the chemicals that we are exposed to without even realizing it. The chemicals are sprayed on our food through pesticides, a variety of chemicals in our shampoo and thousands of other products can be hidden and labeled under one ingredient like “fragrance”. Many of these personal care or cleaning products don’t even label what is inside. How can you trust anything that doesn’t tell you what is in it?

The biggest change I have made is to question everything. There are tools out there than can help you. We should have a right to know what we are using. We cannot trust the companies or the government or anyone else to keep these things safe. We as the consumers need to research and be aware of exactly what these products are and demand safe products for our families. If we do not ask for these items, they will not be provided. There are more and more great choices out there each day and we are seeing huge companies finally paying attention and making changes because we continue to ask for them.

After 8 weeks of someone telling me what to eat, how to exercise and what to consider, this week I was on my own. Well, not entirely on my own: I now have two wonderful new friends (@CarrigansJoy and @pirate1013)who are with me and continuing to encourage and help me keep on track. But I still had to decide what my new plan was, and how I wanted to proceed toward my final goal. I have a very ambitious workout plan in place for March. I have started a Kettlebell swing challenge where I do 300 swings a day, 5 days a week, for the entire month. I have a 3-day strength training workout and am still trying to get my 10,000 steps, cardio, and even running when I can. Basically I am working out in some form or fashion 6 days a week. I am not currently making any changes to my diet plan. I am going to try and keep that consistent, as I really enjoy eating real wholesome food. I am trying to plan better and avoid the mindless or random snacking that seemed to plague me last week. By planning out each meal and my snacks, I hope I can keep myself in check better. I am still logging my food, but I have to know that even though no one is checking on me now, the benefit of logging comes by keeping myself in check.

My weight was up 2lbs this week putting me at 193lbs. I didn’t try as hard to get the number to cooperate as I did during the campaign. I now know my pattern has been to gain/struggle for a couple of weeks then to drop so I am not worried about the increase. I know I am doing what is right and keeping going. I have been told it is the weight-training that has changed my loss pattern. Since I am super please with my progress and can see the muscle I am building I know I am doing it right.

How was your week? Tell me how I can encourage you this week!! Check out my Sistas tonight at the Slumber Party!

I am so excited to share this with you! Last year, several of my friends got to participate in The Color Run, and it looked like a blast. Everyone was covered in colors from head to toe. I so wish I would have joined them. I didn’t think I was ready, as that seemed more of an actual running 5k than any I had participated in. So far, I have done several virtual 5k’s and 2 different obstacle “mud” runs, but I still am not quite to where I can “run” a full 5k. Well, from what I hear, you do not have to be able to run the entire thing; it is about just having a ton of great colorful fun. This year I have the opportunity to participate in The Color Run, and I hope you will join me.

This year is a special year for The Color Run. This is the Kaliedscope Tour and they are offering special gear and activities to mark this exciting new year for the run. They are adding events in many new cities. Check here to see where you can find the closest one to you: http://thecolorrun.com/events/ . I am excited to be able to share a discount code with you for the run as well. The Promo code COLOR5OFF will give $5 off a registration to ANY city. Important: code must be entered at time of registration, cannot be retro-applied. Also please type the code in, do not copy/paste. Not valid on flash city sales.Chicago ticket sales are starting soon. There is a special registration for VIP information, so you can hear about everything first. If you are wanting to run, sign up for the VIP list so you don’t miss out.

For the last couple of months, I have been training to run a 5k. This week I have, for the first time, run 2 miles straight through (yes, they were super slow, but it was a run), and that is a huge accomplishment for me. I am truly hoping I will be ready to run the entire 5k for The Color Run. I know it is going to be a super fun time, and I am hoping my local friends can join me in this one. Who wouldn’t love to be doused in super bright colors from head to toe? They call it “the Happiest 5k on the planet” for a reason. It is going to be so much fun! I just can’t wait for this one.

Disclaimer: In exchange for sharing this post with my readers I was given free entry to The Color Run.

Well, I know it isn’t Monday, and I am way late getting this post up for the Mamavation Blogging Carnival, but I still wanted to share my recipe with you all. This week Mamavation Bootcamp was focused nutrition and, as I hope you all saw on MamavationTV on Monday night, we have been introduced to lots of new food options. One of these is Amaranth and also new for me is Quinoa. Yes, I know it has been popular for a while, but I had never tried it. I received a great gift package from @NOWFoods as a sponsor of this campaign and it had both Amaranth and Quinoa inside. Heading out to pinterest, I found a recipe that sounded perfect to give them a shot: Quinoa & Amaranth Crockpot Breakfast. Although I used the recipe as a starter, I am not someone who can just make something straight from the recipe. I have done steel cut oats in the crockpot with great luck before so I took some of my experience there and turned this into a great breakfast for my family and me. Here is what I made:

Apricot & Blueberry Ancient Grain Porridge

1 cup Quinoa (rinsed and drained)

1 cup Amaranth

3 cups Almond Milk

1 1/2 cup Water

1 tblsp Coconut Oil

1/2 cup Coconut Palm Sugar

1 tblsp Vanilla

1 cup Chopped Dried Apricots

1 cup Fresh Blueberries

I first greased my crock pot with the coconut oil, making sure to get all down in the bottom and along the sides to avoid sticking. Rinsed the quinoa well and added it along with the amaranth to the pot. Poured in the almond milk and water along with the chopped dried apricots, coconut palm sugar and vanilla. I would have added dried blueberries to at this point if I had some on hand (I only had fresh to use for topping when serving each portion). You can mix and match fruits and make lots of different options. One of my favorites with steel cut oatmeal is cinnamon, apples, & raisins. I am sure it would be delicious in here as well. I then set it on Low and let it go overnight. I cooked mine about 6 hours before I was up and turned it down to Warm. I would recommend 4-6 hours cook time if you have the ability to set a timer on your crock pot. What is nice is the quinoa keeps a little crunch for an interesting texture. Serve with a little extra chopped apricots and lots of fresh blueberries.

My husband and I liked it, and one of my kids thought it was good, but my regular oatmeal lover was not impressed by the unusual texture. It is different, but the flavor is quite nutty and very tasty. I would love to know if you give it a try and how you made it for your family. Also if you have any great recipes for other ways to prepare Quinoa or Amaranth send me your links to check out.

Well today is a big day and I am trying to keep my mind busy and hurry it along to the fun part tonight. Since they posted this blog topic I have been trying to narrow down my tips for success. I’ve been doing this a long time and have lost a lot of weight so far so I do consider myself as having success. Maybe not entirely to my goal yet but I know I will get there.

These are my best tips for anyone just starting out on their own journey.

1. Start Today! Don’t wait till the junk is gone from the kitchen. Don’t wait till next week. Each moment you are making a choice, and with each bite you take you are either closer to or farther from your goal. It is the biggest step you will take. Get moving, and you are started. If there are temptations in the house, remove them and start now.

2. Get Determined! It is hard to have confidence in something that seems so daunting as losing 100lbs. Don’t think of it as that huge amount: break it down and just tell yourself you will lose 5 or 10 pounds to start with, in a certain realistic number of weeks. Set your mind on the goal, and go after it. So many people say they have no motivation, but although motivation and excitement is great, it isn’t the motivation that takes you to your goal, it is the determination that keeps you moving toward it even when the excitement and motivation are lacking (Which can happen a lot. I am speaking from much experience.).

3. Don’t try to do everything at once! Pick a focus or healthy habit to implement and work till you have a good handle on it then move on to add the next healthy habit without dropping the ones you have already embraced. Building healthy habits one at a time will keep you from getting overwhelmed in the beginning.

4. Seek help! Having a partner in the process will make a huge difference. An accountability partner or a community like Mamavation or even a friend to work out with will help to keep you going. Working with someone will give you someone to talk to when temptation strikes, and a support network of this type makes a huge difference.

5. Stay positive! Remember you are worth it and YOU CAN DO THIS! Don’t let the negative talk into your head. Weight-loss is about so much more than physical activity. It’s about healthy eating, healthy living, healthy mental attitude, and exercising for a healthy body. You have to love yourself to want to change for a healthier you.

Talk to me! I want to help you get where you want to be. What kinds of things can I post about that would help you on your journey? Let’s do this together.

I am so excited to be a Mamavation Bootcamp Finalist. What does that mean? Well, it means I still have a chance at one of the three spots for Mamavation Mom in Campaign 18. But it also means there is a chance I won’t be a Mamavation Mom in this campaign. What it really means is that I got to participate in one more week of crazy workouts or “hazing” as it is fondly referred to as. It’s been cold here (I mean really, really cold, the don’t stick your nose out of the house kind of sub-zero cold) and the baby has been sick and we just haven’t left the house, so I have been really sluggish. If it wasn’t for my monthly challenge and hazing I would be sitting here not doing a thing. I needed the push. So I have just made the best out of this week of “Tag-Team” hazing. You see, now it isn’t just @bookieboo doing it. She has invited @mrbookieboo, @waytogomom, and @lydsrich to help break us. The kicker is no complaining or they pile it on heavier too. So keep positive ladies, and lets finish this week strong. Join us on Twitter Monday to see who the lucky 3 Campaign Moms are!

I am so glad to have Jody, Toni, Wendy, and Elizabeth working along side of me. It’s been a really fun week and, while we won’t all be chosen on Monday, we can enjoy the ride. Even if not selected, I will be moving directly into the #2weekchallenge and will be thrilled for the girls who are selected. I have enjoyed them so much and getting to know them has been just wonderful. This community has been a huge motivation to me. All the ladies here (and @mrbookieboo too) help to inspire and keep me learning constantly. Thank you Sistas for all you do and keep pushing!

Here’s my Mamavation Application Video in case you missed it. You can go out to Mamavation on facebook or tweet to Leah @bookieboo and tell her how you would enjoy watching me go through this campaign. I am excited for this opportunity. I am looking forward to the possibility of sharing all that I learn with you. I need this detox and hopefully It will give me the push toward that final weight-loss goal or who knows perhaps it will take me there. Thank you all for your continued support!

January has arrived and with it comes everyone wanting to lose weight and get in shape for the new year pouring into the gym. This includes all the people who bought their memberships last year and haven’t used them, as well as all the others who are just signing up for the first time. Already you see it at the gym, and with the New Year beginning in the middle of the week Monday is sure to really kick off the gym rush. I love my gym it’s like a 2nd home to me. It’s part of my local park district, so I have not only been going there to work out, it is where my kids take classes, swim lessons, and a number of other community-centered activities take place. At the gym in January, many people can get bent out of shape (pun intended) due to the change in their environment. I wanted to write up a few tips to get us through this busy time at our home away from home, including things for the seasoned gym rats and also for all the newbies coming in.

To those who are seasoned veterans and have been there day in and day out for the entire year.

Remember you were once here too. We all have to start where we are.

Be nice to those who are just coming in the gym. Remember the anxiety of doing something completely new and how intimidating it can be.

Be patient with those who are new. They are learning how to use the equipment, what the rules are and where to put things when finished.

Smile and offer some assistance. Be welcoming and encouraging. You never know if what you say or do may help someone make a real commitment.

Get out of that rut. Your favorite treadmill is taken? Maybe it is time to try something new. Give the weights a try or what about that neglected rowing machine (it might be the best cardio workout you can get!)

Hang tight and go with the flow. This too shall pass. Come April the crowds will be a distant memory, and the few people who stick around may become your good friends, may learn from you, and may even teach you a thing or two.

To those who are new. Remember a few common courtesies and you will be much better received in this new environment:

Adhere to gym policies on equipment. Most gyms have a 30 minute limit on cardio equipment during a busy time. Even if your gym doesn’t have a limit when the machines are full, think about others who are there to work too and move on to another machine after 30 minutes.

Do not rest on the machine after a set. Wipe it down and move aside or to a different machine then return to finish when you have recovered.

If you must answer the phone do so quickly and quietly. Getting on the treadmill and talking on the phone nonstop for 30 minutes is annoying to everyone around you. No one wants to hear your conversation.

Put equipment back where it belongs. This means rack your weights! Your mom does not work at the gym, (or even if she does others shouldn’t have to clean up after you). Even if the last guy didn’t do this, and you had to go looking for an item, put it away when you’re done.

Wipe down the equipment when you are finished. Whether it is a treadmill or a bench press, if you were on it, wipe it down. No one else wants to sit in your sweat, nor do they want that virus that your kid has or that ran through your family last week.

Remember no one is watching you. No matter how self-conscious you are, no one is looking at you. If you are doing what you are supposed to and using the equipment correctly, no one is judging you.

Remember others are there to work too, be considerate of their time. Most people want to get in and get their workout done and on with the day. You will find some like to chat and such, but for the most part everyone is doing their own thing.

Take advantage of the trainers’ introduction if available. Having a trainer show you how to use the equipment will help you move more quickly through your workout.

Following these simple practices, we can all get along and share the space that is our favorite gym. Respecting others and being patient will go a long way to keep peace in the environment. I personally love seeing all the new people at there. I hope each of them find what works for them and continues on their path to health. It is a hard journey and I wish you all the best in getting to your goals.

Do you work out at the gym? Will you be starting for the first time? How do you like to pass the time while there? Reading? TV? Tunes? Or chatting with a friend?

About Lumpy to Lean

We have created this site as a cooperative effort in order to encourage each other, as well as all others who are interested in a change in lifestyle for weight loss and fitness. We will not focus on a specific diet or workout regime. We will be discussing and trying various methods, products, workouts, and philosophies to find what works for each of us. We believe that each individual is different and something that works well for one may not work for another. All of our opinions and observations are our own, and we only hope that others will find them beneficial in their own journey.